Clamp down on Harrow council home subletters

FRAUD teams in Harrow have helped to free-up a handful of much needed homes in the borough by targeting illegal subletting.

Tenants who sublet council homes hits the economy nationally with a cost of more than a whopping £900 million and investigations in Harrow in the past six months has already freed up four family homes.

Harrow’s corporate anti-fraud team (CAFT) and housing management are working together to prevent tenancy fraud following an initiative launched earlier in the year.

Following a successful funding bid, a specialist Investigation Officer was also jointly appointed to the teams to focus specifically on this area. To date four tenancies have already been surrendered by tenants where evidence of misuse has been discovered. All four properties can now be re-let to families in temporary accommodation and work is continuing to free up even more homes in this way.

The move has been welcomed by Harrow Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB), which is flooded with families desperately needing accommodation.

Speaking about the move Jill Harrison, Chief Executive of CAB, said: “We welcome this initiative because it will free up social housing for those in the greatest need but also because it will protect prospective tenants who may be exploited by unknowingly taking on illegal tenancies.”

In one Harrow case officers gathered evidence to prove that a council tenant had purchased a property for £430,000 in Bedfordshire six years ago and was also suspected of owning another in Barnet.

Another had purchased and moved into a property in Sheffield but continued to claim benefits in Harrow and even moved his children into the property.

Portfolio holder for housing, councillor Bob Currie added: “Demand for social housing in Harrow far outstrips supply and illegal subletting deprives families in genuine need of a home in the borough. This initiative has the potential to save the council money and bring properties back into use for people who really need them.”